1. Structural Fire Engineering, 15-16 October 2015, Dubrovnik, Croatia
FIRE RESISTANCE OF ALUMINIUM GLAZED CURTAIN WALLS Test results comparison depending on the side of fire exposure
Paweł SULIK, Jacek KINOWSKI, Bartłomiej SĘDŁAK,
Fire Research Department of Building Research Institute

2. Plan of the presentation
General informations about glazed curtain walls
Technical solutions in aluminium glazed curtain walls
Fire resistance tests and classification
Test results comparison
Conclusions

3. General informations about glazed curtain walls
Curtain wall is a type of wall which usually consists of vertical and horizontal structural members, connected together and fixed to the floors of the building to form a lightweight space enclosing continuous skin, which provides, by itself or in conjunction with the building construction all the normal functions of the external wall but doesn’t take on any of the load bearing characteristics of the building.

4. General informations about glazed curtain walls
Curtain walls should be designed and constructed in such a way that in case of fire it will limit the spread of fire inside the building and outside (to the adjacent buildings), allow the evacuation of users and ensure the safety of rescue team.

5. Technical solutions in aluminium glazed curtain walls

6. Fire resistance tests and classification
Classification of aluminium glazed curtain wall fire resistance is prepared in accordance with the requirements given in EN :2009, basing on the test results
Table 1 Fire resistance classes in accordance with EN E 15 30 60 90
120 EI EW 20
E – integrity, I – insulation, W – radiation

7. Fire resistance tests and classification
According to the European Union provisions the fire resistance test of glazed curtain wall shall be performed in accordance with EN :2014. The standard presents two different methods of heating and test specimen configuration depending on the side of fire exposure (external or internal).
Heating of the test specimen is held by the standard temperature-time curve, taken as appropriate to reflect the fully developed, following the flashover fire inside the building

8. Fire resistance tests and classification
Integrity is an ability of a test specimen of a separating element of building construction, when exposed to fire on one side, to prevent the passage through it of flames and hot gases and to prevent the occurrence of flames on the unexposed side

9. Fire resistance tests and classification
In the test integrity is verified by cotton pad (used against the unexposed surface of tested specimen, for max. of 30 s, or until ignition, which is defined as glowing or flaming), gap gauges (integrity fails if the 6 mm gap gauge can be passed through the test specimen and can be moved a distance of 150 mm along the gap, or if the 25 mm gap gauge can be passed through the test specimen such that it projects into the furnace) and visually (integrity fails when flaming longer than 10 s occurs on the unexposed surface of tested specimen)

10. Fire resistance tests and classification
Insulation is an ability of a test specimen of a separating element of building construction when exposed to fire on one side, to restrict the temperature rise of the unexposed face to below specified levels

11. Fire resistance tests and classification
The temperature rise on the unexposed surface of tested specimen is checked with thermocouples attached with use of heat resistant adhesive. Thermocouples are attached in the specific places given in the standard. In case of aluminium glazed curtain walls, in order to maintain its insulation – maximum temperature rise on the profiles cannot be greater than 180 K and average temperature rise on each glazing cannot be greater than 140 K

12. Fire resistance tests and classification
Radiation is an ability of a test specimen of a separating element of building construction, when exposed to fire on one side, to prevent the passage of the fire, due to the transfer of significant heat through the element or through its unexposed surface to the adjacent materials.

13. Fire resistance tests and classification
Radiation in the test is measured with the radiometer placed in the 1 m distance from the geometric center of the unexposed surface of tested specimen. Radiation is evaluated on the basis of the time at which the maximum radiation measured does not exceed 15 kW/m^2

14. Test results comparison
Four test specimens of glazed aluminium curtain walls in full configuration, were tested in Fire Testing Laboratory of Building Research Institute in Pionki. Curtain walls had the same transom – mullion structure. Two test specimens were tested for external fire exposure, and two for standard fire exposure.
Four test specimens of glazed aluminium partitions (two dimensions of 415 x 415 cm, width x height and two dimensions of 405 x 350 cm, width x height), were tested in Fire Testing Laboratory of Building Research Institute in Pionki

15. Test results comparison
Two types of insulation inserts were used in profiles, each type for pair of tests (external and internal fire exposure). Two types of glass panes were used in test specimens, each type for pair of tests (external and internal fire exposure).
Four test specimens of glazed aluminium partitions (two dimensions of 415 x 415 cm, width x height and two dimensions of 405 x 350 cm, width x height), were tested in Fire Testing Laboratory of Building Research Institute in Pionki

16. Test results comparison
Two types of insulation inserts were used in profiles, each type for pair of tests (external and internal fire exposure). Two types of glass panes were used in test specimens, each type for pair of tests (external and internal fire exposure).
Table 1 Mullions deflection in mm (“+” towards and “-“ outside the furnace)
Time [min]
External heating
Internal heating
Insulation insert 1
Insulation insert 2
Mullion 1
Mullion 2 10 2 5 16 17 -9 -7 -1 3 20 18 19
-38
-32
-17 25 7
-42
-33
-20
-19 30 4
-45
-35
-24
-22 40
-52
-40 - 50
-68 55
-29
-83 60 8
-39
-93
Four test specimens of glazed aluminium partitions (two dimensions of 415 x 415 cm, width x height and two dimensions of 405 x 350 cm, width x height), were tested in Fire Testing Laboratory of Building Research Institute in Pionki

17. Conclusions
the side of fire exposure can have an major influence on the temperature rises on the surface of the curtain wall profiles and also the deflection of the test specimen,
in case of the heating under the external temperature-time curve despite the lower temperature in the furnace and lower deflection module the temperature rises on the aluminium profiles aren’t always lower in comparison to results recorded in test performed under the standard (internal) temperature-time curve. Described phenomenon confirms the necessity of verifying the fire resistance of curtain walls from both sides.
Four test specimens of glazed aluminium partitions (two dimensions of 415 x 415 cm, width x height and two dimensions of 405 x 350 cm, width x height), were tested in Fire Testing Laboratory of Building Research Institute in Pionki

18. Thank you for your attention
The End
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Four test specimens of glazed aluminium partitions (two dimensions of 415 x 415 cm, width x height and two dimensions of 405 x 350 cm, width x height), were tested in Fire Testing Laboratory of Building Research Institute in Pionki